I seem to recall reading or hearing that the Bollandist Acta Sanctorum, begun in 1643 and completed in 1940 (granted with interruptions), was the longest ongoing publishing project in western history. Does that sound plausible? I can't find confirmation of this but neither can I think of any other publishing enterprise that lasted longer.
Best,
John
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John Shinners Professor, Schlesinger Chair in Humanistic Studies Saint Mary's College Notre Dame, Indiana 46556 Phone: 574-284-4494 or 574-284-4534 Fax: 284-4855 www.saintmarys.edu/~hust "Learn everything. Later you will see that nothing is superfluous." -- Hugh of St. Victor (d. 1141) 
